Mold attacked my new One Planet packs

[mountainwalker]

Just discovered that my two new One Planet backpacks are covered in mold (Vertex and Strezleki). The Vertex I have used once but the Strezleki has not been used. Bit mystified as they were stored next to several other older canvas backpacks (Macpacs) and nothing else has any sign of mold. The vertex cleaned up ok, but the Strezleki has ugly mold stains which I doubt I can get rid of. Any one have any suggestions for removing mold stains. I tried white vinegar and left them in the sun.

[Hallu]

Try bleach or turpentine, those are the common household products used to remove mould. Found this for washable fabrics : http://home.howstuffworks.com/how-to-re ... tains2.htm Be careful it's OXYGEN bleach and ammonia, not regular bleach which should never be mixed with ammonia.

[Strider]

Give OP a call?

[Rob A]

You have to be a bit careful with bleach. A lot of manufacutrers wont like you using it either.
If you are getting the dreaded black sometimes you are out of options and just have to go for it. The New Zealand spray pack "20 Seconds" available from bunnings and hardware is what Ive had best results with.
If I decided I had to use it on the pack I would give it a spray, leave it for twenty of thirty seconds quickly sponge scrub it, then give it a good hose off then dunk it in a bucket or bath of soapy water and make sure the bleach is done for. You will really have to chase it down in the seams. Id be using a sponge in truck wash, followed by several fresh water rinses. At least your mould will be dead. Though its an absolute no no, I've had good results on mylar laminates and other things that shouldnt ever be bleached.

[matagi]

Old housewives' trick - put lemon juice on the mould and put it in direct sunlight.

[Hallu]

He already tried vinegar, lemon juice is basically the same thing : acidity to kill the spores.

[Nuts]

The canvas holds a lot of moisture, easy to put away slightly damp without noticing. Black or red mould is very hard to remove. You'll likely effect the canvas, probably w'proof wize with anything too harsh. Lemon Juice, Oil of Cloves but +1 for asking OP for advice. Might be best to get it as clean as possible and live with what is left rather than try to remove any trace.

[phan_TOM]

I discovered mould growing on my McMillan last year and followed the instructions on the OP website to clean it. It was looking pretty beaten up and crappy and I had to repeat the process twice to get it clean but it came up almost as good as new.

http://www.oneplanet.com.au/care-and-use-information/rucksacks-care.html

First, give your rucksack a good shake: you’ll be amazed at the bits and pieces you’ve been carrying around! Then brush off any excess dirt with a soft-bristled brush. Put the pack and a natural, mild, non-detergent soap in the bath, cover it with warm–hot water and leave it to soak for some time. Brush the pack to remove any residual dirt. Rinse the pack until the water runs clear – it may take a while…

Once the pack is clean, hang it on the clothes line to dry. Drying time will depend on the weather: it may take several hours in summer, or a day or two in winter. Lubricate zips with a silicon lubricant suitable for use on fabrics.

Be careful not to twist or push heavily on the pack as this may damage the aluminum frames.

The canvas holds a lot of moisture, easy to put away slightly damp without noticing

Yeah I found that to be true Nuts, I think I put it away 99% dry once which was where my problem started... I'm extra careful to give it plenty of time hanging up outside to dry now

[Nuts]

That vertex will hold up to 200grams of water in the fabric (ok, yes- i weighed mine )

[mountainwalker]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Had some nice sunshine today. Scrubbed with vinegar and left in sun to dry, the stains are not as pronounced but I think they will always be there.

[Mountain Rocket]

Care to provide us with a photo of the mentioned stains?

[mountainwalker]

Care to provide us with a photo of the mentioned stains?

Yeah, will do. Heading of to blue mountains for the weekend hiking with the pack, so after that. Completely gone from vertex and now faint on strezleki after a far while in the sun. I can live with it, after all the packs are great.